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Title: First Night · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: War of the
Ring · ID: 400
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 07:06:23
Poor Pippin. He is so very young and has been so very brave while on
this hopeless Quest, but now, sundered from all of his kin, his
homesickness is keen and sharp. His youth is highlighted by many things
in this story, and I particularly was struck by this in his thought when
he removed his shirt: [Why unbutton buttons I will only need to button
again in the morning? ]

His musings are spot on about the unfamiliar and uncomfortable City of
stone, and unsurprisingly all of his thoughts take him back to his
Merry, who has ever been his source of safety and comfort. He rues his
actions with the Palantír for he knows he has only himself to blame for
their separation.

His joy at the homey scent of lavender is such a relief to him, and I
liked very much his memories as he drifted off, and the beginnings of
the dream in which he is able to delight in the beauty of the Shire. The
rest of the dream is not so comforting, as he tries and fails to come to
his familys side, as if he will never be able to quite come home again.
And that is painfully true, because he has changed, and things will
never be exactly the same again even should he make it back to the Shire.

And at the end, Gandalfs mere presence comforts him. It is easy to read
the simple but heartfelt relief in his thought: [&hes back. Gandalf is
back.]

-----------------------------------
Title: Until After · Author: Dana · Races: Hobbits: War of the Ring ·
ID: 897
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 07:26:05
Another wonderful story that Dana tells in a lovely stream of
consciousness style, a style in which she writes like no other.

Beginning in Moria, Pippins thoughts guide us naturally through the
beginnings of he and Merry becoming more than cousins, more than
friends, and the sporadic nature of their courtship is dictated because
of the demands of the Quest. But their new relationship becomes more and
more until by the time they are together in Minas Tirith it is clear
that they have given their hearts to one another.

The bit where Pippin awakens in Cormallen to Merrys kiss is lovely, and
his words to astonished Merry were perfect: ["Oh, I love you, fool of a
Brandybuck," he said. "You thought that I would leave."]

And he drifts to sleep again, with Merrys voice in his ears, anchoring
him to the knowledge that the Quest is over and that they need be
separated no longer.

Just beautiful!

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Title: Swan Dance · Author: Rhapsody · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 797
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 07:26:40
Such a sad drabble of a tragic event, and I thought Rhapsody did a good
job of capturing the Feanorian perspective - the importance of getting
those ships, no matter the horrible cost. We as outsiders understand the
falsity of their rationalization, but they would not - at least at the time.
-----------------------------------
Title: Stronger Songs · Author: Marta · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 688
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 07:27:24
I had never before considered this particular first meeting, but this is
an intriguing perspective. Of course Tom would try to save and protect
what he could of creation, prior to Beleriand's fall. I would love to
read of an actual conversation between he and Treebeard.
-----------------------------------
Title: Great Heart · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: First Age and
Prior: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 64
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 07:30:13
I thought this was a very well done perspective on Huan and his destiny.
It heightens his eventual accomplishments that he started out as the
runt of the litter, or perhaps having to strive so hard as a pup is part
of what shaped his later determination. I particularly appreciated that
he could spot evil early on in his life, and that he knew his heart was
meant for someone else. It makes Huan's later obedience to Luthien and
then Beren very understandable. His "voice" was clear throughout the
drabble.

I grinned at the line about Huan wagging his tail at Orome: ["It is
something like greeting a mountain..."] Indeed! And the homage to the
Celtic hounds was lovely. I think I may always visualize Huan this way now.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Importance of Being a Hobbit · Author: Lamiel · Races:
Hobbits: War of the Ring · ID: 961
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 08:01:36
This is a very hobbity story! Merry, whom I see as the most serious of
the hobbits when it comes to his position among the Fellowship, doubts
his ability to measure up as a warrior at the side of the Big People. He
frets at Pippins more carefree attitude and his habit of making the
others laugh. He continually sizes himself up and feels that he is
lacking in much more than just height.

But a conversation with Legolas brings things into perspective for him.
He comes to realise that the Dark Lord cannot be beaten with blade and
bow, and that the hobbits just being hobbits in their support of Frodo
is a mighty weapon in and of itself. When Legolas tells him that he had
no real hope of the Fellowships success until the younger hobbits had
been included in its numbers Merry is surprised, but quickly understands
just what Legolas means. And he suddenly understands that Legolas too is
doing his best to lighten the hearts of the Company.

Merry still intends to become the best warrior that he can be, but he is
comfortable now in the knowledge that, should he not succeed at arms, he
is still a valued and necessary member of the company. And so indeed is
Pippin.

Merry's voice is written very well here, and so are the rest of the
Fellowship. A very entertaining story!

-----------------------------------
Title: The Decoy Hobbit · Author: storyfish · Races: Hobbits: War of the
Ring · ID: 257
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 09:05:24
This mostly book-verse story with just a touch of film-verse is one of
my favourites.

In the first part, I love that Pippin and Beregond have teamed up here
and worked out a system for felling orcs. It makes perfect sense that in
battle warriors would make use of their strengths in figuring out a
strategy against the enemy, especially when so outnumbered.

Pippins thoughts here about all of the times he has served as a decoy
are perfectly true, especially in his distraction of the Dark Lord. I
love the way that he refers to himself as [The Decoy Hobbit
Extraordinaire!], because among other things that is indeed what he is.
I am sure that was one of the reasons that Gandalf wanted Pippin and
Merry to be a part of the Fellowship  but just one of many reasons.

Even though Pippins thoughts are light-hearted here, there is still
plenty of grim reality, and his thoughts seem very much to me like a
hobbit out of his depth, trying very hard to keep the hysteria of his
alien surroundings and actions away by bantering silently with himself
in true hobbity fashion, making light of the graveness of the situation.
After all, there are no other hobbits to banter with, and no breath to
spare in doing so aloud anyway, to companions who will not understand
that this is helping Pippin to say sane and fight on and do his very best.

The grim reality really strikes home when he is wounded in the arm.
Caught up in the heat of battle it seems almost a trivial thing, and so
a warrior must think such a wound if he is to survive in battle. And
when Saurons Eye brushed over Pippin I actually gasped at the
realisation that Pippin would certainly have had to face that Eye
finding him once again when he was fighting so near to Saurons
stronghold. That he marched willingly to the Black Gate, within easy
reach of Saurons clutches, speaks immeasurably about his courage.

Pippins attack on the troll to save Beregond was heroic indeed, and his
thoughts about where he had ended up and the mental letter home were
sad, even though they were very much Pippin. His thoughts while he is in
limbo give testimony to how very near death he was, and I especially
liked that his own spirit flew so high that he espied the Eagles
returning from Mount Doom with Frodo and Sam, though he didnt realise
that was what he was seeing.

The parts where Gimli finds Pippin, and Gimlis tear falls, and when
Aragorn tries to call him back were wonderful. When Gandalf had to
quickly summon Aragorn to return because Pippin was slipping away from
them again was a very tense and angsty moment, but written with
appropriate simplicity from Pippins detached pov. The sound of the sea
on white shores shows us just how close Pippin was to leaving
Middle-earth forever.

I love the scene when Pippin is waking up, when he hears the sound of
Merrys weeping and thinks that someone had died, eventually making
himself come back to reality. And I think my favourite bit of the whole
story is when Pippin, after being reassured that Frodo and Sam have
fulfilled the Quest and still live, wants to know why Merry has been crying:

[But there's one more thing I need to know before I can rest. With an
effort, I raise my left hand and trace one finger down the damp still on
Merry's cheek.

"Then why?" I ask.

Merry leans in and grips my raised hand with both of his. "Oh Pip," he
says, "do you even have to ask?"

Is that all it was, then? Silly Merry.

I take one brave, deep breath. "I missed you too, Mer," I say, and
squeeze his hands back. ]

What a wonderful ending to a really enjoyable, and very re-readable
story. I do wish that this author would write more and often!
-----------------------------------
Title: Claws · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 835
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2006-10-19 17:34:17
This is a deliciously Dark drabble, showing there is no honour amongst
thieves. Elena Tiriel takes us to the heart of a crow's delight in
sparkling gems, acquisitiveness and greed. For a moment, we soar with
him as he attempts to make good his escape. Then she deflates (or should
that be excarnates?) our excitement.

The brilliance of this drabble lies not in what is said but what is
implied  the manner of Smaug taking his revenge on the thief who has
dared enter his domain. Concluding with that delicious throwaway line
indicating this is not the first time such a duel has taken place....
-----------------------------------
Title: The Usurper · Author: Elena Tiriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 834
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2006-10-19 17:38:30
Elena Tirel once again gives us a chilling insight into a Dark character
 and another one of the more obscure corners of canon she loves so
much. In this drabble, she makes us feel not just the ambition, vanity
and cruelty of the usurper Castamir, but also his pettiness, petulance,
self-absorption and lack of self-awareness  and all from Castamir's own
perspective. This is a tour-de-force in 100 words! The drabble provides
a fine exploration of Tolkien's frequent theme that evil contains the
seeds of its own undoing, by showing how Castamir would have turned the
people of Gondor against him by indulging his own appetites for revenge
and cruelty. Excellent work!
-----------------------------------
Title: Strange Fortunes · Author: Tehta · Times: First Age and Prior:
Incomplete · ID: 81
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:07:03
The plot is entertaining (Author's Notes and "Extras" inclusive),
intricate and well-paced. Very good use of PoV.

Excellent, biting humour, underpinned with more serious threads and
themes, reminscent of social satires. It builds up the wonders of
Gondolin and its denizens in vivid details (sometimes using Tolkien's
own occasionally overboard descriptions), only to spike it all with
hilarious, wicked asides, double-meanings and bad poetry, courtesy of
Maeglin and Salgant.

The characters and their interactions were consistently well-drawn
(especially Ecthelion and Glorfindel). Maegling's portrayal as weird,
deluded, clueless, obsessed-with-Idril was hilarious, and occasionally
oddly touching. And the depiction of Salgant as an indolent sycophant
and bad composer was highly enjoable.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dance on the Way Down · Author: Aliana · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 734
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:08:02
Wistful, peaceful, warmly-glowing tone, a lyrical, beautiful style. The
theme of the piece - the changes peace has brought, and the memories of
the ones who lived through war - flows like a calm undercurrent through
the story, gaining strength as the story goes on. The love between the
unnamed narrator and her husband is depicted very movingly.
-----------------------------------
Title: Gandalf returned · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 990
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:09:18
Fascinating gapfiller. Resonant imageries - one can really feel Gandalf
"waking up" to full realisation.
-----------------------------------
Title: Shadow and flame · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 876
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:10:16
Excellent use of language and imagery. What a humbling realisation for a
Balrog; oddly, it almost makes me pity him.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Price of Power · Author: Rabidsamfan · Times: The Great
Years: General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 989
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:11:13
Saruman's personal recollections of the forest and his former
connections to it show very well how far he has fallen, that he can give
this up: ["The Price of Power"], indeed.
-----------------------------------
Title: Always a First · Author: Dana · Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length
Ficlet series · ID: 757
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-19 18:12:50
I loved the first and the last drabble: The character's respective voice
(teenaged Merry & spirited Estella) was so vividly portrayed.
-----------------------------------
Title: Midsummer's Day · Author: MysteriousWays · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 980
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 18:22:46
Your drabble has just the right mood of gentle sadness mixed with a
quiet joy. It's nice to see a moment when Frodo can simply "be," and
enjoy his beloved Shire that he sacrificed so much in order to save.
-----------------------------------
Title: How Grima Lost His Eyebrows · Author: NeumeIndil · Times: Late
Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 800
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 18:22:59
I'm so glad that someone finally explained that part of the movie to me!
Nice introduction with a day-dreamy feel, then the intensity comes on
well at the end.
-----------------------------------
Title: Unchanged · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 926
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 18:31:18
This is a well-done look at Bilbo from the outside, by a longtime
friend. I thought Marta caught both a hobbit's voice and a realistic
perspective of Bilbo's non-aging. Hobbits may be gossipy, but they are
basically down to earth and very practical. I can see them having the
calm acceptance of their ailments that Rory portrays so well, even as
they hash over everyone else's signs of aging while seeking sympathy for
their own! I have wondered how Bilbo's seeming timelessness would have
been seen by those who knew him very well. Very telling comment at the
end, pointing to our growing modern obsession with long life at any cost.
-----------------------------------
Title: Object Lessons · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 668
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 18:31:36
Very nice. The brothers felt in-character but with the right amount of
youthful rashness. Faramir in particular was captured well - teaching
lessons but also making sacrifices for those he loves.
-----------------------------------
Title: Gondor Needs No King · Author: Ribby · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 207
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 19:54:10
Oh, I got chills at Boromir's ["wolfish and predatory"] smile, and that
Faramir - the one and only person who might have stood a chance to help
his brother - ended up in the pyre after all. A cold and unsettling
scene that highlights the Ring's utter power to corrupt.
-----------------------------------
Title: Following Orders · Author: EdorasLass · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 54
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 19:54:36
Edoraslass manages to clearly show the mix of anger, pain, and
disappointment that Faramir must have felt when confronted with
Denethor's "faithful" servants. He has to forgive these men, as much as
he had to forgive his father, in order to move on into a new life of
happiness. Hopefully Pippin's gentle counsel and Eowyn's love will help
him in this.
-----------------------------------
Title: Holding the Line · Author: Marta · Times: The Great Years: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 581
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 19:55:13
Marta did a very nice job of providing some sobering backstory for the
Mumak-killing scene. I thought that she caught the "movie-verse"
Legolas' voice perfectly, and I loved Aragorn's comeback to his friend's
astonished question about the corruptibility of men.
-----------------------------------
Title: Last Defence of the City · Author: Branwyn · Times: The Great
Years: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 96
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 19:56:17
Oh, man - how I wish that this was the way it had happened. Denethor,
who gets such a magnificent description for his younger years before
despair and grimness took him, could have gone out in a blaze of glory
and honor on the battlefield. Good job with incorporating some canon
elements at the beginning; I was completely surprised when things went
topsy-turvy. Denethor's voice sounded just right, still accurately the
Denethor of the books even as his actions deviate from canon.
-----------------------------------
Title: Board Games (Cinquain) · Author: Rous · Genres: Drama: Poetry ·
ID: 741
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-10-19 20:39:54
Now I must admit my embarassment at having to look up what a cinquain
was. *grins* However, you hold true to the form, and the piece is an
effective summary of the holding action which Rohan fought for so long.
(Actually, the title put me in mind of "the great game" of the 19th
century, when two powerful nations fought for control of central Asia.)
Nicely done!
-----------------------------------
Title: Boromir's Journey Home Amon Hen to Minas Tirith · Author:
majorbee · Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 690
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 21:08:24
This is a nice long read. While it is strictly movie-verse, that doesn't
matter, as it's already AU. I found Boromir's survival a bit improbable,
but once past that part, I was caught up in a logical and exciting
sequence of events. I liked the explanation for Denethor's madness,
something that PJ had neglected. And I found all the characters were
well done.
-----------------------------------